If you wish to be perfect – Aug 17
“If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
I am not a fan of the whole literal or metaphorical reading of the Bible discussion. It seems to me each side has decided which parts of the Bible to read literally and which to read metaphorically. This may be a quippy cop-out but I’m for reading all parts of the Bible seriously, especially the parts that challenge me.
Jesus’ reply to the young man’s question certainly challenges me. It is one of those texts that causes me an initial pang of guilt, because I haven’t and don’t expect I will sell all that I have. And then I move into negotiation with the text. “Selling what I have” is really about spiritual detachment from my possessions. This feels at list a little more reasonable, although I haven’t achieved that either. Or perhaps this was just a statement directed at this young man to address his particular issues and isn’t a general instruction for all.
There are many ways to distance oneself from the seemingly straightforward meaning of the text.
For me, sitting with this text with an open spirit, with wonder and curiosity, listening to how God might be speaking to me through it increases the likelihood that understanding and direction might come.
Whatever you do with this challenging instruction, don’t get so distracted by it that you forget to pay attention to, and heed the instruction that follows. “Then come, follow me.”